KUCHING: Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak has filed a police report against UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over a controversial statement made on Facebook.
The report was filed by Soo Tien Ren, special assistant to Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, and George Lam, special assistant to Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, at Sekama police station today (Sept 12).
According to them, the statement made by Merlimau assemblyman in Melaka, was seditious and touched on sensitive religious matters, prompting their call for an investigation.
Soo said that Akmal’s statement could incite racial tensions in Malaysia, including in Sarawak.
He said Akmal’s statement, where he said ‘This is a Muslim Islam matter, don’t be so busybody. If you don’t want us here to be rude, don’t be forthright, don’t challenge!’, was considered inflammatory and could provoke racial conflicts.
“Because of that, we lodged a police report so that authorities can take actions on this statement,” he told reporters after filing the police report yesterday (Sept 12).
The controversy comes after a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, who revealed that the Malaysia Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) was studying a proposal to make halal certification mandatory for restaurants and food outlets that did not serve pork or alcohol.
Following this, Seputeh MP and DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok voiced her concern, suggesting that halal certification should remain voluntary to allow businesses the flexibility to respond to market demand.
Kok argued that mandating halal certificates would create unnecessary challenges for business owners, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Meanwhile, George Lam explained that Kok’s statement was aimed at carrying out the responsibility to ensure that there was a system of checks and balances in the policy regarding the issue.
“She (Teresa) intends to ensure that the government thinks twice before implementing any policy as it will have an impact on the people.
“This is because the possession of a halal certificate affects the public, especially small traders, both Muslim and non-Muslims, who may not have a halal certification,” he said.
Recently, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed that the proposed halal certificate issue would be discussed in the next cabinet meeting.
“Therefore, we hope that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) will also play a role in ensuring that policies related to this issue are checked and balanced in the cabinet,” Lam said.
